Adjustable fastening devices



Nov. 15, 1955 A. BATZDORFF 2,723,435

ADJUSTABLE FASTENING DEVICES Filed May 25, 19 51 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ALFRED BATZDORFF.

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Nov. 15, 1955 A. BATZDORFF ADJUSTABLE FASTENING DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1951 INVENTOR- ALF-RED BATZDOEF'FT Wa /6,16,; W

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United States Patent ADJUSTABLE FASTENING DEVICES Alfred Batzdorlf, Dover, Del., assignor to International Latex Corporation, Dover, Del., a corporation of Deltaware Application May 25, 1951, Serial No. 228,217

Claims. (Cl. 24245) This invention relates to. adjustable and readily removable fastening devices and more particularly, to highly resilient adjustable garters. The invention is especially adapted for supporting hose fromgirdles or the like wearing parallel and is primarily intended for and serves a particularly useful purpose in conjunction with rubber latex or the like girdles.

While highly resilient or readily stretchable garters are usually desired for girdles and the like wearing apparel, it is particularly desirable that garters of this type be utilized in connection with girdles made from relatively thin rubber latex, examples of girdles of the latter type being disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,360,.7 36. When such highly resilient garters, having stretch characteristics comparable to those of the material from which rubber latex girdles are made, have been employed in the past, it has been difficult to provide means for readily adjusting the garter length which at the same time maintains the adjusted length during use. of the garter and which is readily removable when not in use.

For example, withcertain buckle arrangements heretofore known, a garter comprising an adjustable length strapmade. of relatively thin rubber latex or the like sheet material would not maintain itsrdesired adjusted length under repeated intermittent stress or stretch because such highly elastieand readily stretchable strap material is greatly reduced in its cross-sectional dimensions when elongated under stress. In many arrangements heretofore proposed for adjustable devices, this reduction in cross-sectional dimensions caused slipping of the strap with respect to the. buckle or the like holding means. A problem encountered. in solving this difficulty is that any positive clamping of the rubber strap by a member having a sharp edge or any piercing of the same by a. prong is detrimental to the strap. itself, causing it to break or tear.

The slipping problem can be overcome by providing an arrangement which wedges the strap between a member which moves in the direction of pull on the strap and a stop member on the body of the buckle and in the preferred form of such an arrangement, the strap is held against both the face. of they buckle and the stop member by the wedging member. Thus, in the preferred form of suchan arrangement, the strap is engaged over two areas, each substantially equal in length to the length of the wedging member.

When the garter strap has been adjusted and the garter has been used, thus forcing the-wed'ging member into tight engagement with the strap, it has been found thatit is relatively difiieult to disengage the wedging member from the strap so as to permit further adjustment of the length of the strap. In accordance with this invention, the wedging' member is pivotally mounted on the body of the buckle and when it is. rotated, it loosens the strap. A rotatable wedging member hasthe advantagethat a relatively large area is provided which may be engaged by the fingers so as to loosen the strap, and if thebuckle is painted, enameled, or similarly finished, the wedging 2,723,435 Patented Nov. 15, 1955 member is less likely to be jammed by the paint or enamel.

It has been foundin connection with a buckle constructed in accordance with my invention that not only is the loosening of the-strap facilitated but alsothe length of the strap can be adjusted by measured, substantially uniform amounts.

An object of this invention is to provide a device having the desirable characteristics set forth above and which overcomes the above-mentioned difficulties. 1

A further object of this invention is to provide a'device of the character described which permits the length of a highly resilient strap to be readily adjusted and which maintains the desired length without slipping.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which permits adjustment of a strap by measured amounts.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable buckle adapted to hold a relatively thin rubber latex strap in adjusted position without slipping when said strap is placed under repeated intermittent stress.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description setting forth the manner in which I now prefer to practice the invention and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of the embodiment shown in the preceding figures illustrating a step in the adjustment of a strap;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of the embodiment shown in the preceding figures and taken along the line 55 indicated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of the embodiment shown in the preceding figures illustrating a step in the adjustment of a strap;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation View of a further embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of the embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and taken along the line 99 indicated in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1-3 of the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the adjustable fastening buckle of my invention comprises a flat, relatively thin body 1 which may be formed from sheet metal and a pair of inturned fingers 2 and 3 adjacent one end of the body 1. The fingers 2 and 3 extend from respectively opposite sides of the body 1 and are disposed over the upper face 8 of the body in spaced relation thereto to provide a throat designated by the. numeral 4. The fingers 2 and 3 are preferably formed integrally with the body 1 and they have inwardly directed, aligned and adjacent ends 5 and 6.

Although the fingers2 and 3 have beenshown as having closely adjacent ends 5 and 6, they may be secured together to form a single bar extending across the body 1.

A wedging member in the form of a wire bail 7 is pivotally mounted on the body 1 by means of a pair of upstanding lugs or ears 9 and 10 which extend from respectively opposite sides of the body 1 and preferably are integral therewith. The lugs 9 and 10 have apertures 11 and 12 respectively therein which, for reasons given hereinafter, preferably are in the form of slots whose lengths extend substantially parallel to the upper 3 face 8 of the body 1 and substantially perpendicular to the fingers 2 and 3.

The wedging member may also have the form of a plate pivoted on the body 1, but a hail of the type shown is preferred because of the ease with which a strap secured to the buckle may be either lengthened or shortened and because it permits the strap to be readily adjusted by measuredamounts.

The bail 7 has a pair of pivot ends 13 and 14 which are inserted in the slots or apertures 11 and 12, a pair of side portions 15 and 16 and an end portion 17 which extends across or in front of the throat 4 adjacent the fingers 2 and 3. As shown in the drawings, the portion 17 is intermediate the upper face 8 of the body 1 and the fingers 2 and 3 and does not enter the throat 4, but if desired, it may enter the throat 4 provided the wedging action hereinafter described is obtained.

A slot 18 is provided in the body 1 for the purpose of receiving and holding a tab 19 having a bead 20 at one end and a button 21 at the other end. The diameter of the bead 20 is greater than the width of the central portion of the slot 18 and is less than the diameter of the enlarged ends of the slot 18. Therefore, the bead 20 may be threaded into one of the enlarged ends during assembly or may be removed therethrough, and when the bead 20 is in the position shown in the drawings, the tab 19 will be held at the narrow central portion of the slot 18. The ends of the bead 20 may be tapered to afford initial guidance in threading.

The button 21 is the usual fastening means which cooperates with the end of the body 1 having the usual keyhole shaped cutout 22 to hold an end of a stocking, for example.

The buckle is preferably attached to the end of a strap designated generally by the numeral 23 which is, for example, made of rubber latex or the like sheet material having a thickness of the order of twenty-five thousandths of an inch. The strap 23 is looped over the portion 17 of the bail 7 and has an end portion 24 which overlies a load carrying portion 25. Both portions 24 and 25 pass through the throat 4 between the fingers 2 and 3 and the upper face 8 of the body 1, and the upper and lower faces respectively of the portions 24 and 25 are in contact respectively with the fingers 2 and 3 and with the upper face 8 of the body 1 so as to provide a braking action on these portions for purposes hereinafter described.

The body 1 is also provided with a slot 26 which can receive the portion of the strap 23 looped over the portion 17 and hence, which permits the portion 17 to align itself with the center of the throat 4 when the garter is muse.

The strap 23 may be assembled with the buckle by holding the wedging member 7 in an upright position substantially as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 and by threading the end portion 24 through the back side of the throat 4, around the portion 17 and back into the front side of the throat 4. A slight pull on the portion 25 will then bring the portion 24 entirely through the throat 4 and will place the portion 17 across the front of the throat, as indicated in Fig. 5.

The under sides of the fingers 2 and 3 are preferably spaced from the upper face 8 of the body 1 by a distance greater than but approximately equal to twice the thickness of the strap 23. However, the spacing may be in the range from slightly less than twice the thickness of the strap 23 to slightly less than twice the thickness of the strap 23 plus the cross-sectional dimension of the portion 17 which is perpendicular to the upper face 8 of the body 1 when the wedging member 7 is in the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5. Thus, when a pull is exerted on the portion 25 of the strap 23, as when the garter is in use, the portion 17 is pulled toward or into the throat 5 causing the portions 24 and 25 to become clamped between the portion 17, the fingers 2 and 3 and the upper face 8 of the body 1. To prevent cutting of the strap 23, the portion 17, the fingers 2 and 3 and the slot 26 may have rounded edges.

If desired, the apertures 11 and 12 may be the same size as the pivot ends of the wedging member 7. In this case, the distance of the portion 17 from the pivot ends 13 and 14 should be substantially equal to the distance from the apertures 11 and 12 to the fingers 2 and 3 so that the clamping or wedging action described above will be obtained. However, with this construction, the buckle would be more diflicult to make because of the tolerances required and it would be more difi'icult to adjust because in rotating the wedging member, there would be binding between the portion 17, the portion 24 and the fingers 2 and 3. Accordingly, it is preferable that the apertures be in the form of slots which permit the pivot ends 13 and 14 of the wedging member 7 to be moved toward and away from the fingers 2 and 3. Thus, in one position of the pivot ends 13 and 14, the distance from the pivot ends 13 and 14 to the portion 17 is substantially less than the distance from the pivot ends 13 and 14 to the fingers 2 and 3, and in another position of the pivot ends 13 and 14, the distance from the pivot ends to the portion 17 is substantially equal to or greater than the distance from the pivot ends to the fingers 2 and 3.

If it is desired to shorten the portion 25, the buckle may be held in the left hand with the thumb and index finger engaging the sides of the fingers 2 and 3. The side portions 15 and 16 are grasped with the thumb and index finger of the right hand, and the wedging member 7 is pulled away from the fingers 2 and 3 and is rotated into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The end portion 24 is then pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4 causing the wedging member 7 to assume first the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 4 and then the position shown in Fig. 5.

If it is desired to lengthen the portion 25, the buckle may be held as described above and the wedging member 7 pulled and rotated with the thumb and index finger of the right hand to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 which is the same position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The portion 25 is then pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6 causing the wedging member 7 to assume first the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 6 and then the position shown in Fig. 5.

Adjustment of the strap 23, as above indicated, results in the portion 25 being shortened or lengthened, whichever is the case, by an amount substantially equal to twice the movement of the wedging member 7, and if further lengthening or shortening is required, the procedures are repeated as often as is necessary to obtain the desired length of the portion 25. The strap is, therefore, adjusted in measured amounts. In rotating the wedging member 7 for adjustment, it moves in the slots 11 and 12 and releases the pressure on the strap 23. As the member is rotated, both portions 24 and 25 are pulled through the throat 4 and equal friction on the portions resulting from their engagement with the fingers 2 and 3 and the upper face 8 causes equal lengths of the portions to pull through the throat. However, when only one of the portions 24 and 25 is pulled to return the wedging member 7 to the position shown in Fig. 5, that portion of the strap which is pulled slightly elongates and reduces friction at its surface allowing it to slide freely through the throat 4 while the other portion of the strap remains in a fixed position.

Figs. 7-9 illustrate an embodiment of the invention which differs from the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-6 by the form of the wedging member. As indicated in Figs. 7-9, the wedging member 27 has an extension 28 thereon which acts as a handle and which simplifies the rotation of the member 27 and hence, the adjustment of the strap 23. The wedging member 27 comprises a pair of pivot ends 29 and 30, a pair of side portions 31 and 32, a wedging portion 33, and the extension 28 which extends around the fingers 2 and 3 and which extends upwardly from the side portions 31 and 32. The adjustment of the strap with the arrangement of Figs. 79 may be the same as described in connection with Figs. 4-6 except that the extension 28 is grasped by the wearer to rotate the member 27 instead of the side portions 31 and 32.

The strap 23 may be the garter strap of a latex rubber girdle heretofore mentioned, or it may be a separate resilient strap adapted for use as a garter or for other purposes. It should also be noted that the buckle may be removed readily from the strap 23, a feature which is particularly useful when it is desired to wear a girdle or other supporting undergarment and the buckle is not required.

In the preceding figures, the strap 23 is held during use against a stop including the fingers 2 and 3 and a portion 34 of the body 1, the fingers and the portion 34 preferably being integral with the body 1. However, as indicated in Fig. 10, the stop may be a separate structure carried by the body 1 and fastened thereto as by welding, soldering, etc. In Fig. 10, the stop comprises a rectangular ring 35 which includes a top member 36 and a bottom member 37 which engage the strap 23 in the same manner as the fingers 2 and 3 and the portion 34 described in connection with Figs. 1-9. The bottom member 37 may abut and be secured to the body 1 as shown or it may be spaced upwardly from the face 8 and suitably secured to the body at the ends as by legs. Also, although the stop may be a continuous ring, as shown in Fig. 10, it may also be discontinuous or it may be formed from separate members which are secured together.

Having thus described my invention with particularity, with reference to the preferred embodiment of the same, and having referred to certain modifications thereof, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding my invention, that other changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover such changes and modifications as are within the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a stocking support comprising a thin sheet-like rubber garter strap and means for fastening a stocking to said garter strap, the combination therewith of an adjustable buckle adapted to engage said strap without releasing it when subjected to intermittent exertion and release of tension comprising a bail having a pivot portion and a loop engaging portion adapted to engage a loop of said strap, said loop engaging portion comprising a straight bar smoothly curved in cross section; and a member having two adjacent continuous cross bars having parallel aligned faces and fixedly spaced from each other by side bars to define the long sides of an elongated narrow throat having a width less than two thicknesses of said strap plus the cross sectional dimension of the loop engaging bar, said side bars being spaced apart a distance less than the outermost dimension of the loop engaging portion of the bail in a direction parallel to the long axis of said throat, said pivot portion of the bail being pivotally associated with said member so that said bail can be rotated to move said bar with the strap looped thereover into strap clamping relation with said two adjacent cross bars and to move said bar away from said throat and draw portions of the strap adjacent the loop through said throat.

2. An adjustable buckle adapted to engage a thin, sheet-like rubber garter strap without releasing it when the strap is subjected to intermittent exertion and release of tension comprising a member having a substantially peripherally complete throat shaped to engage the outside surfaces of a loop of said strap, said member comprising a fiat relatively thin body portion and a cross bar fixedly spaced thereabove, the upper face of one end of said flat portion forming one long side of said throat and the lower face of said cross bar forming the other long side of said throat and being in parallel aligned relationship with the upper face of said flat portion, and a bail having a loop engaging bar smoothly curved in cross section, said bail being pivotally mounted on said member so as to clamp said strap against the long sides of said throat when tension is applied to said strap and to be rotatable upwardly to move said bar away from said throat and draw the portions of the strap adjacent the loop through the throat.

3. The adjustable buckle of claim 2 wherein said pivot portion is slidable so that the bar of the bail can be moved away from said upper and lower bars by a translational movement.

4. The adjustable buckle of claim 3 in which said bail is pivoted in a pair of lugs extending from respectively opposite sides of said flat relatively thin body, said lugs having slots therein that extend in a direction parallel to said body for a distance greater than the thickness of the pivot portions of said ball.

5. A thin sheet-like rubber garter strap and an adjustable buckle adapted to engage said strap without releasing it when subjected to intermittent exertion and release of tension comprising a bail having a pivot portion and a loop engaging portion adapted to engage a loop of said strap, said loop engaging portion being smoothly curved in cross section; and a member having a substantially peripherally complete elongated throat shaped to engage, without cutting, the outside surfaces of a loop of said strap, said throat having a width less than two thicknesses of said strap plus the cross sectional dimension of the loop engaging portion of the bail, said member comprising a body portion having a flat face defining a long side of said throat and a cross bar fixedly spaced from said body portion and having a face parallel to and aligned with the face of said body portion, the face of the cross bar defining the other long side of said throat, said pivot portion of the bail being pivotally associated with said member so that said bail can be rotated to move said bar with the strap looped thereover into strap clamping relation in said throat and is free to follow the loop of the strap toward said throat when tension is applied to the strap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 252,092 Fluck Ian. 10, 1882 409,779 Ferris Aug. 27, 1889 478,285 La Pierre July 5, 1892 491,123 McClure Feb. 7, 1893 565,868 Washburne Aug. 11, 1896 566,227 Rosenkranz Aug. 18, 1896 567,061 Wright Sept. 1, 1896 724,585 Kerngood Apr. 7, 1903 724,586 Kerngood Apr. 7, 1903 896,359 Buchanan Aug. 18, 1908 1,170,245 Grabau Feb. 1, 1916 1,409,355 Austin Mar. 14, 1922 1,741,619 Fenton Dec. 31, 1929 1,933,808 Horobin Nov. 7, 1933 2,027,513 Broadwell Jan. 14, 1936 2,267,180 White Dec. 23, 1941 

